Our View: Spring, random acts of kindness in editorial stew

A winter-weary public is dreaming of spring. Unfortunately, groundhogs and meteorologists predict that it will be quite a while before we see temperatures that are even remotely considered springlike.

Of course, with all the subzero temps we've had this season, even a 30-degree day feels almost like spring. Almost.

If we can't have spring, the next best thing is spring training.

Major League Baseball teams will report to warm-weather locales this week to prepare for the upcoming season. Soon we will be reading endless stories about the potential of players we've never heard of.

That may pique our interest and we may get so desperate for pleasant weather that we tune in to watch an exhibition game or two.

Baseball is the national pastime and we eagerly anticipate when the real games begin in April in Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Louis. The way the weather's been, the groundskeepers may have to scrape some snow and ice off the field before the games can begin. Play ball!

Good Samaritans: Some stories restore our faith in humanity. Lonnie Woods and his daughter, Deshawnda, qualify as Good Samaritans in our book and probably in a book more important than ours.

The Woodses saw a homeless couple and their three young children wandering outside on a west-side street on a subzero day. They brought the family into their Rockford home for four days. In that time, Woods went looking for a shelter or agency that could help. The shelters were full.

Woods connected with The Salvation Army, which put the family up in hotel while trying to find them a permanent place to stay.

We don't read stories about such kindness often enough. Kudos to the Woodses for living the Golden Rule.

Tops in tips: Another story made us realize that there are a lot of good people out there. Each of three waitresses at the Boone County Family Restaurant in Caledonia got a $5,000 tip from a female diner. She was not a newcomer to the family-owned restaurant at the intersection of Illinois 173 and 76 in Caledonia, but she wasn't a regular either.

The story about Amy Sabani, 25, Sarah Seckinger, 23, and Amber Kariolich, 28, has received attention far beyond the borders of Boone County. You would expect it to be picked up by Chicago media, but the story was published as far away as The Times of India.

The waitresses are thankful for the tip. We're thankful for people who are willing to be so generous.

Online chats: Our online chats have been sporadic in the new year. We hope to fall into a regular rotation soon.

John Lichty, president and CEO of Rock River Environmental Services, the company that won Rockford's garbage contract, will be our guest at noon Wednesday. You can join the conversation live or you can post questions in advance on our Facebook page.